COURSE DESCRIPTION

Intensive treatment is given to selected areas of finance, including elements of both theory and practice, with an emphasis on the role of financial strategy in the overall corporate business policy. Emphasis is placed on financial policy and strategy issues through discussions, case analyses, and presentations covering a variety of topics.

Prerequisite: COMM 320-3, COMM 321-3.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1) Apply financial theories in a real business problem

2) Analyze corporate financial challenges more rigorously

3) Make financial decisions for maximizing firm value

4) Formulate an effective corporate financial strategy

READING MATERIALS

The following case studies are for reference in this course:

1) Ivey publishing # 9B07N002– Encana Corporation: The cost of capital

2) Ivey Publishing # UVAF1492 – Deluxe Corporation

3) Ivey Publishing # UVAF1563 – Target Corporation

4) Ivey Publishing # UVAF1484 – The Battle for Value, 2004: Fedex Corp. vs. United Parcel Service, Inc.

5) Ivey publishing # 9B14N038 – Bluntly Media: A private company valuation

6) Ivey Publishing # UVAF1769 – Warren E. Buffett, 2015

7) Ivey Publishing # UVAF1489 – Gainsboro Machine Tools Corporation

8) Ivey Publishing # 9B12N031– Facebook, Inc.: The Initial Public Offering

9) Ivey Publishing # 9B17N002 – Alibaba’s Bonds Dilemma: Location, Timing, and Pricing

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS, EXAMS AND GRADE WEIGHTAGE

Assessment	Grade Weight
Two Group Presentations (video)	60% (30% each)
Class participation	10%
Final Essay of at least 1500 words	30%
TOTAL	100%

Each group presentation will be all in videos of no less than thirty minutes. Presentations will be conducted by groups of up to four students. Each group presentation should contain a question that is related to the presentation. Group presentations will be graded by all students except the authors. Class participation marks will be based on the numbers of grading on group presentations and the answers of the questions from the group presentations. Final essay will be written by individuals. The total grades will be scaled so the average grade of the class will be B+.

You can upload the videos on YouTube or on any drive.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week	Date	Topics (PPT)	Videos	Notes
1	Sept 10	Introduction The most useful formula	Introduction Formula
2	Sept 17	The most useful formula, examples	Formula Examples	Excel file
3	Sept 24	Cost of Capital	Cost of Capital	Paper
4	Oct 1	Same as week 3	Video of Excel file	Excel file, A societal perspective
5	Oct 8	Capital Structure	Capital Structure	Excel file
6	Oct 15	Financing life cycles	Financing life cycles	Excel file
7	Oct 22	Presentations		Sample presentation
8	Oct 29	Investment	Video for Excel	Excel file
9	Nov 5	CAPM
10	Nov 12	Investment theory based on geometric return
11	Nov 19	Behavioral finance
12	Nov 26	Mergers and Acquisitions
13	Dec 3	Presentations
		Final Essay	Due Dec 14

Please also note that discussion topics and dates are tentative.

ASSURANCE OF LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The School of Business has been working on curriculum mapping to align our offerings with the vision of “Fostering Business Leadership with a Global Vision in the North and Beyond” and to maintain our high quality of Business education at UNBC. Toward this end, the school has set the learning goals and objectives listed below for the BCOMM program.

Learning Goals	Learning Objectives	Goals and objectives addressed in COMM 420	Assessed by
Communication	Produce a concise and logical piece of written communication	¹R	Assignment
	Create and conduct a clear and effective oral presentation
	Generate new and original ideas
	Prepare an effective presentation of data	R	Assignment & Exam
Global Leadership Skills	Apply a global perspective to business problems
	Demonstrate how to inspire people
	Determine how to manage a team
	Use ideas that are new to them
	Express how to diplomatically interact (act) with people
Critical Thinking	Analyze business situations	²E & R	Exam & Assignment
	Explain the cause and effect of business actions	E & R	Exam & Assignment
	Investigate the veracity of business data	E & R	Exam & Assignment
	Determine how to achieve business goals	E & R	Exam & Assignment
Social Responsibility	Demonstrate the importance of SR (economic, social and environmental)
	Recognize the role of ethics in business practices and social responsibilities	³P
Use of Technology	Use appropriate technological tools for computation of business problems	E & R	Exam & Assignment
	Identify relevant systems for businesses
	Apply technological tools for data analysis and business decisions	E & R	Exam & Assignment

¹R denotes reinforce.²E denotes emphasize.³Pdenotes Partial.

READING MATERIALS

Lectures and class discussions are planned with the assumption that students will complete their readings on time. Notes will be given in each class, and all other relevant referred materials (if any) will be posted on Blackboard.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

All students are strongly recommended to attend each class since different case studies and relevant materials will be discussed in class. Some of those materials will not be available on Blackboard. If anybody misses a class for a valid reason, this is the student’s responsibility to collect those materials from other students of the class.

CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENTS

1. Each team cannot be more than three students unless the class has an odd number of students. All students in each team must need to participate in individual assignments.

Participation in Case Study Assignments is not optional, and the instructor reserves the right to adjust individual grades on the project to reflect participation. On March 30, each team member will be required to submit the “Peer Evaluation of Participation Form” confidentially to the instructor (Form will be uploaded on Blackboard by March 23^rd). The instructor will take the average score of participation and use it as a weight for grading individual score of each team member in the Case Study Assignments. For instance, each member will provide participation score (out of 100%) for all team members including him/herself. If the average score of participation of a team member X is 98%, and the total mark in the Case Study Assignments is 38 out of 40, X will get 37.24 (=38×98%) as his/her individual grade in the Case Study Assignments. There will be no change in participation score once a student submits the “Peer Evaluation of Participation Form” to the instructor.

2. A set of questions will be assigned for each Case Study Assignment at least a week prior due date (to be announced in class). Each team will submit their detail works by 8:30 am on the due date via B/B (in MS Word Only). No grade will be given for late submission – no excuse will be considered. Assignments sent by E-mail will not be accepted for grading. Adherence to all academic standards and forms is expected. Finally, the Case Study Assignments are pledged assignments for all team members, and your paper must be original and not reused from any other sources. No make-up will be conducted for missing the in-class case study exercise.

EXPECTATIONS FROM STUDENTS

• The Case method will not work well if you do not come prepared. Therefore, keep the following points in mind.

• Read the cases before the class and prepare notes.

• Prepare the case synopsis before the class.

• Be ready to participate and discussion.

• Make sure to check your email and B/B daily.

CONDUCT IN EXAMINATIONS

Students must present appropriate identification upon entering the examination room. Appropriate identification is defined as a UNBC student card and/or some other form of photo identification acceptable to the proctor. The following regulations apply to the conduct of examinations in this course:

a. Students are not allowed to carry class notes, reading materials, and any electric device, except their textbook and financial calculator.

b. No candidate is permitted to enter the examination room more than 30 minutes after the beginning of the examination, or permitted to leave within 30 minutes after the examination has started.

c. Candidates must not communicate in any way with other candidates in the examination room.

d. Candidates must not leave their seats, except when granted permission by the proctor.

e. Candidates must turn in all materials, including rough work, upon leaving the examination room.

f. Food and beverages other than water are not permitted in the examination room.

MISSING EXAM

Advance notice must be given when a student is unable to appear for an examination. Only duly authenticated bereavement, illness and legitimate reasons are admissible justifications for absence from a scheduled examination (e.g. Writing a CPA exam and there is a time conflict).

Do not schedule travel during the exam period that may conflict with your midterm and final exams.

IF YOU HAVE MISSED A FINAL EXAMINATION

Satisfactory explanation, with supporting documentation as appropriate, must be made by the student or designate to the instructor within 48 hours from the time the examination was written. Normally, for explanations of sickness, a doctor's certification is required.

GRADE SCALE

See UNBC Undergraduate Calendar, General Academic Regulations, section 39 for UNBC Grading System Information for further details.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of UNBC's Academic regulations, policies and procedures as described in Section 45 and 46 of the General Academic Regulations section within the Undergraduate Academic Calendar. Please refer to the UNBC website. Any conduct that violates the standards of the University as set out in the Undergraduate University Calendar, particularly those related to academic honesty, is a serious offense. The formal processes set out in these Regulations are to be followed.

RESPECT

Please demonstrate respect to your fellow classmates who express their thoughts and explore new ideas in the course.

ETHICAL STANDARDS

The following behaviors are considered unethical:

• Telling the instructor that you "need" a certain grade

• Asking for extra assignments for the purpose of raising a grade

• Asking that the grade be raised because it is very close to the next higher grade

• Asking that the grade be raised because you did very well on one part of the course or grading scheme

• Asking for a higher grade because you don't like the grading scheme

• Asking to be allowed to turn in an assignment/project late - even a few minutes late - because of problems in computer and/or printer or any other reasons

• Asking to be treated better than other students by making an exception to the rules

• Asking for any other unfair advantage in grading

• Asking to be treated better than other students by making an exception to the rules

• Asking for any other unfair advantage in grading

ACCESS RESOURCE CENTRE

If there are students in this course who, because of a disability, may have a need for special academic accommodations, please come and discuss this with me, or contact staff at the Access Resource Centre (arc@unbc.ca) located in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Room 10-1048 on the main campus. Students can also call the ARC at (250) 960-5682. Regional students can call the Centre toll-free at 1(888) 960-5682.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTRE

The Academic Success Centre provides students with FREE access to

• Tutoring (face-to-face, online, or drop-in)

• Personalized study skills assessments

• Peer-led course supports

• Downloadable handouts

• Access to self-assessment sites

• Customized programs and workshops

For more information, see the Academic Success Centre website at www.unbc.ca/asc, visit the ASC in the Teaching and Learning Building, Room 10-2584, phone 250-960-6367, or email asc@unbc.ca